Review of NZ fishing scandal needs to be transparent

No more secrets and lies –review of NZ fishing scandal
needs to be open and transparent

While Sea Shepherd
applauds MPI for announcing an independent review of the
illegal dumping captured on the Ministry’s own cameras,
given the scale of abuse and cover-ups the review needs to
be held in the public domain and the scope broadened.

Sea
Shepherd New Zealand Director Michael Lawry says “The
crimes in question occurred four years ago and would likely
remained hidden until the University of Auckland report
exposed them. MPI initially and repeatedly denied the
findings. The Government even foolishly questioned the
integrity of the science. Now the Government are silent and
MPI are back peddling. Years of illegal fishing was able to
thrive in an environment of secrecy and deals. For the
regulators and fishing companies to regain the public’s
confidence the review needs to be held in the public domain.
No more secrets and lies from the regulators, guardians and
big fishing”

Sea Shepherd also asks the Ministry to
release all remaining videos including the NZ Dolphin death
footage. Lawry says “As the scandal goes global with
almost certain economic repercussions for the fishing
industry, best the Ministry release everything now rather
than have it slowly leaked with further damage to the
industry prolonged. How many more Hectors and Maui deaths
have occurred over the last four years because the abuse was
hidden? How many could have been
saved?”

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